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APGA Talks Pipeline Safety Efforts in Congress at Excavation Safety Conference

By Joshua St.Pierre posted 03-21-2024 12:00 PM

  
This week, APGA staff presented on recent pipeline safety efforts in Congress at the Excavation Safety Alliance’s Global Safety Conference. Opportunities like this are important in educating other, aligned stakeholders and rallying support for pipeline operators’, like APGA members, priorities in legislation that will reauthorize the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).  
 
APGA staff offered an overview of Congress’ role in pipeline safety efforts and more specifically how the body often gives PHMSA mandates to promulgate rulemakings that impact operators across the natural gas value chain. The discussion centered on recent legislation that has been introduced and passed out of the two committees of jurisdiction in the House of Representatives. The Pipeline Safety, Modernization, and Expansion Act of the Energy & Commerce Committee and the PIPES Act of 2023 of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee both have several similar pipeline safety provisions including:
• Increased penalties for intentional damage of pipeline infrastructure.
• Creation of a Voluntary Information Sharing (VIS) system. 
• Language to strengthen state excavation damage prevention activities.
 
It is important to note that, in their current forms, neither bill includes mandates for PHMSA to promulgate any rulemakings that will substantively impact APGA member systems. Both committees must reach a consensus on the bills before they can be voted on by the full House of Representatives. A similar process must also occur in the Senate. APGA staff also shared about the importance of members of Congress looking to operators like APGA members and excavation professionals when they progress reauthorization legislation to ensure that their expert opinions are included in the conversation.
 
The Excavation Safety Alliance also invited APGA staff to attend their Safety Expo attended by hundreds of excavation professionals. At the Expo, several professionals showcased new and exciting technology that has been developed to reduce instances of excavation damage. APGA staff will encourage members of Congress to recognize the role that these new technologies can play in reducing safety incidents and the importance of investing in this infrastructure when possible. 
 
For questions on this article, please contact Joshua St.Pierre of APGA staff by phone at 202-407-0015 or by email at jstpierre@apga.org.

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